Overview
The Lok Sabha on 3 August 2026 approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. The bill replaces an earlier ordinance that had increased the strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The passage occurred without any substantive debate, as opposition members continued to chant slogans on unrelated issues such as NEET paper leaks and alleged misuse of Ram temple donations.
Key Developments
- The bill was introduced after a brief remark by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
- A statutory resolution moved by opposition members condemning the ordinance was rejected by a voice vote.
- Despite continued sloganeering, the bill was put to a vote and cleared.
- In the same session, a separate bill amending the births and deaths registration was also passed without debate.
- After the passage, the House was adjourned for the day.
Important Facts
The amendment raises the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court to 38 judges. The move follows criticism of the Supreme Court Collegium for opaque recommendations, highlighted by Justice Bhuyan’s remarks on potential “bad appointments”.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this episode helps aspirants in several ways:
- It illustrates the legislative process: how an ordinance can be superseded by a bill after parliamentary approval.
- Shows the role of the Lok Sabha in scrutinising judicial reforms.
- Highlights the functioning and criticism of the Collegium system, a frequent GS2 topic.
- Demonstrates parliamentary tactics such as voice votes and the use of statutory resolutions to register dissent.
Way Forward
Future sessions may see more rigorous debate on judicial appointments, especially concerning the transparency of the Collegium. Opposition parties could push for a legislative framework governing judge selection to curb “bad appointments”. Additionally, the passage of the births‑and‑deaths registration amendment signals the government’s intent to streamline vital statistics, which could impact policy planning and social welfare schemes.